Blackhawks Sign Ville Pokka To 1-Year Deal

According to Scott Powers at The Athletic – Chicago, the Blackhawks have agreed to a one-year deal with defenseman Ville Pokka.

Pokka, 23, was originally a second round pick (#35) in the 2012 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders, and was acquired by the Blackhawks in the trade sending Nick Leddy to the Isles. He has appeared in 76 regular season AHL games in each of the last two years with the Rockford IceHogs, but has yet to make his NHL debut.

Pokka skated for Finland at the World Cup of Hockey before last season in spite of a lower-body injury impacting his summer, according to Powers. He is a right-handed shot and is listed at 6-0 and 200 pounds.

Signed for the league minimum. Not leaving any excuses as to why he shouldn’t get called up.

I don’t understand how blatant exaggeration has become a valid means of making your point but, yes, he can skate, he just doesn’t have the speed it seems the new NHL is going toward. If I remember well he isn’t slower than TVR – not something to brag about.

The Leddy deal really seems like a huge miss by Stan Bowman at this stage. Yes SB was up against it at the time yes! However trading a young,player that evolved into a top pair D-Man for a marginal prospect isn’t a good regardless of the situation. I’m not sure if Pokka is an NHL player.

Don’t know if its a coincidence or not but the recent rfa signings now give Bowman the ability to ice have compliant 23 man roster( about $13,000 under) for opening day and not risk losing anybody to waivers. Could play big for ltir move on 2nd day of season.